FDLE clears retired Beach police chief

A state investigation into the actions of retired St. Augustine Beach Police Chief Richard Hedges “did not reveal any information indicative of any criminal action. In the absence of additional information, [Florida Department of Law Enforcement] considers this matter closed,” according to the agency.

The 45-day investigation by the FDLE began May 14 and focused on four allegations made by 10 of Hedges’ junior officers. These charges involved a missing mountain bike, missing firearms, missing starter pistols and a missing motorcycle.

Hedges had already been cleared on ethics violations.

He said Saturday that he thought the inquiry would be done a lot sooner.

“I’m just glad that it’s finally over with,” he said. “I’ve always been confident that I would be cleared of all charges, both ethical and criminal, since there was no foundation for them in the first place.”

He announced his retirement June 4.

His attorney, Patrick Canan of Canan Law, St. Augustine, was less forgiving of his client’s accusers.

“This was ridiculous from the get-go,” he said, “It’s very discouraging when the rank and file make petty and baseless allegations against their superior. Just by reading (the investigative report), you can tell how ridiculous it was.”

Weapons and more

The four-page FDLE report was separated into three sections.

In the first section, Inspector James Biddle and Deputy Inspector General Dean Register reported that a .32-caliber Walther PPK semi-automatic pistol, a .38-caliber Smith & Wesson revolver and starter pistols had been reported stolen by the patrol officers, who accused Hedges of taking them.

However, those items were secure in a weapons locker the whole time.

“It was also determined that they’d been placed there by Chief Hedges and never removed,” the report said.

The second section involved investigation into a mountain bike donated to the department before 2007.

The FDLE investigation could not pin down the date when the bike was reported missing, the report said. Hedges had directed Beach Sgt. Gary Hartshorne to find it, but no bike was found.

The serial number is unknown, interviews about the last location of the bike conflicted with one another, and the last police officer to use it had left the department a long time ago and is unreachable, the report said.

The third section involves the reported theft of a Yamaha YZ50 dirt bike.

Hartshorne put the motorcycle into storage as recovered property after it was abandoned by its fleeing driver. This was before Hedges became chief, the report said.

Hartshorne told investigators that “over the course of several years, the dirt bike became inoperable.”

Then it went missing and there were no documents indicating who the owner might be.

“There is no indication that Chief Hedges either saw or was aware of (attempts to donate the bike),” the report said. “No criminal violation involving Chief Hedges was identified.”

Aftermath

Canan said he was angriest that Hedges retired under a cloud, which made him appear guilty to some.

“The bottom line is that no one should assume that the chief retired because he had done anything wrong. He was getting ready to retire anyway,” Canan said.

The St. Augustine Beach City Commission will meet at 7 p.m. July 16 to discuss “alternatives” to having its own police department. Some commissioners have hinted that the city could save hundreds of thousands of dollars a year if it contracted with the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office for police protection.

In the end, the 10 officers who lodged charges against their chief may find they’d sown the seeds to unemployment.

But Hedges seems to have no malice toward his accusers.

“I have always wanted what was best for the department and the city, and that is why I tended my resignation and decided to retire after 38 years of dedication to law enforcement,” he said. “It is appropriate that this shadow has been lifted from our community.”

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back in the weapons locker, where he initially placed them,, they could have been used for his personal use.. it simply says it found no evidence,, it doesn't say it never happened !!! how is it the p.d. never copied down the serial # of the mountain bike ??? and again no vin off the dirt bike ??? it should have been auctioned off along with other city property when no owner could be located !! not left for years for someone to begin a fancy for it... as for the unemployment aspect of this episode,, the residents & officials who consume alcoholic beverages beyond a point, won't be happy about the sheriffs office being in charge... no more free ride home !!! the beach police have the pulse of the community,, the sheriffs dept. , no offense dave, doesn't !!! tourism will fall off with a dedicated sheriffs presence... and all to save each homeowner $10.00 a year ???>>>yathink

Give the evil greedy pol a road map, an apple & a ride to the edge of town. What he did to the reputation of this fine upstanding peace officer is despicable. The truth has been revealed & the lynch mob needs to be held accountable.

and he was cleared, but it is sad he left under that cloud. I'm glad he was vindicated and can be happy in his retirement. As for the comment in the article that the, "officers might've sown the seeds of unemployment...", that's true and sad as well. You never know though, maybe they truly thought there was wrong doing on the part of the Chief...? I have not a clue what the motives were. I just hope the people of St. A get the 'department' they want to take care of their city. I see both sides, saving a LOT of money would be fabulous and could help the city in these troubling economic times, BUT, I know what it's like to have a small town feel to the police, but more in the negative. Where I'm from, they are semi-power hungry narcissists, heads bloated in their 'power', strutting around town like nobody can touch them. Basically, high on themselves. Sick. (not all of them, mind you.) That being said, it sounds like it's the opposite down there, and I'm glad of it. I hope the city/beach can keep their dept and the comfort level they're happy with.